“Me neither. They ken what would happen to them if they dared,” Edan replied darkly.
They reached the horses, which were now standing together by the bridge, munching on the lush grass. Edan threw down the damaged saddle, then took off Bessie’s saddle and put it on his horse. As he secured the damaged one to Bessie’s back as best as he could, Olivia decided to voice her thoughts.
“Edan, d’ye think it could have been Nurkirk’s doin’? He could have bribed someone to do it, in retaliation for ye throwin’ him out like that.”
“Like young Bobby was bribed to rob ye, ye mean?” he replied, checking that the broken saddle was tied securely.
Olivia nodded. “Aye, exactly. It seems like too much of a coincidence for him nae to be involved.”
“Well, at this moment, I cannae think of anyone else who’d like to kill me. But I have nay proof ’tis him. I’ll have to investigate first before I can do anythin’.”
“Aye, of course. But under the circumstances, I think we should go back home now so the healer can examine ye. That was a nasty fall, whatever ye say,” she told him.
He looked at her sharply. “We’re nae goin’ back. We’re on a date.”
His tone was so commanding that she instantly agreed.
“All right, if ye’re sure,” she relented, yet she was still torn between her concern for his health and her excitement about the date. “But what about the horses? We have only one saddle.”
“We’ll ride together on mine and lead Bessie behind us.”
“Oh,” Olivia murmured with some trepidation before letting out a small gasp of surprise as Edan suddenly seized her by her waist and lifted her onto Hamish as if she were as light as thistledown.
She found the experience of riding on the front of the saddle, between Edan’s thighs, confusing. It was disturbinganddeeplypleasurable. Her back rested against his broad chest, and his brawny arms encircled her as he held the reins in his large, scarred, capable-looking hands.
A small, excited shiver ran through her as she looked at them, for she could not help thinking of them touching her. The memory of Edan fastening the locket around her neck, the way his fingers had brushed against her skin and made it tingle, came vividly back to her.
How will it feel when he touches me all over?
She suddenly felt very hot despite the chilly air.
With every movement of the horse, she pressed against him, feeling the heat from his chest and thighs penetrating her clothes, burning the skin beneath, while at the same time sending pleasurable shivers over her skin.
I’d be happy to go on like this forever.I hope we dinnae get to wherever it is we’re goin’ too soon.
So, when he eventually brought them to the edge of the woods and dismounted before lifting her down, she could not help feeling a little bereft.
“We have to walk the rest of the way from here,” he explained as he tethered the horses to a nearby tree, where they had plenty to eat while they waited for their return.
Olivia waited as he took a rolled-up blanket and the saddlebags from Hamish’s back and slung them over his shoulder before turning to her.
“Follow me,” he said, ducking beneath the tree branches, following a narrow trail into the woods.
With no idea what to expect, Olivia did as she was told.
13
She was surprised and delighted when, after a few minutes of walking, they emerged into a beautiful grassy glen sheltered beneath ancient oaks and elms.
It was about twelve feet in circumference, vaguely bowl-shaped, and completely secluded. The light from above penetrated the canopy of leaves and dappled the lush greenery. Plump cushions of bright green moss covered a series of large, flat rocks that looked perfect for sitting on.
“Why, what a magical place,” Olivia breathed, looking around her in wonder. “It looks like the sort of spot where the fae would dwell.”
“Aye, they probably do, so keep yer eyes open,” Edan said drily, putting the saddlebags on one of the boulders before shaking out the blanket and spreading it on the soft turf beneath their feet. “Will ye sit, Me Lady?” he asked, gesturing grandly in invitation.
Wondering at his unexpected humor, Olivia bobbed a little curtsey. “Aye, thank ye, Me Laird. I dinnae mind if I do.” She sat down, folding her legs beneath her and tucking in her skirt. Curious as to why he had brought her there, she said, “This is truly a beautiful spot, Edan, but ’tis a bit off the beaten track. How d’ye ken about this place?”
“Well, ’tis on me land, for a start, and I ken every inch of that,” he replied with a touch of pride that made her smile. “But this place is special to me, ye see. Only me family kens about it. We used to come here for picnics and spend time together when I was younger, when me maither and faither were still alive. It holds many happy memories for me.”
